AOC and Bernie Have More Power Than They Think. They Should Flex It

SandersspeaksduringarallywithOcasio-CortezonMarch21,2025,inDenver,Colorado.PhotobyChetStrange/GettyImagesWhereverVermontSen.BernieSandersandNewYorkRep.AlexandriaOcasio-Cortezgofromherewillbeseenasalong-awaitedinflectionpointinAmericandemocracy.Oraforeseeableretractionbacktowhatgotushereinthefirstplace. Becausetheduo–long-disrespectedandnowbegrudginglyacknowledgedbytheestablishment–iselectrifyinghistoriccrowdsleftdispiritedandde-energizedbythatsamedismissivestatusquo. Overthecourseofjustthreedays,morethan86,000peopleinArizona,Colorado,andNevadacametorallywiththe“radical”pair.InDenver,Colorado,Sandersboastedthat34,000peopleattended–thelargestrallyhehaseverhad. Allinanon-presidentialelectionyear. Whiletheenergyisnowbeingcelebratedbypeopleofvariedideologies,it’sworthemphasizingthatthisexactmobilizationwasthepremiseofSanders’2016campaign.Andhis2020campaign.Thislevelofmassmobilizationcould’vehappenedbefore.Onecanim